Engage and Inspire: Practical STEM Education Tips

Teaching STEM to Students: Fun and Accessibility Suggestions

3/24/2023

Three elementary students engaged in a STEM activity using a microscope, promoting fun and accessible science learning in early education.

Guest post provided by Emily Graham of MightyMoms.net

A strong foundation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) will help your students build successful careers down the road, not to mention hone their critical thinking skills for more success in life. Of course, giving them a solid foundation is easier said than done – STEM can be complex and hard to digest, even for adults. You’ll have to up your game as a teacher and make it as fun and accessible for them as possible, but with the following tips, both you and your students will look forward to deep diving into STEM!

Devise an age-appropriate curriculum

Your first step, ideally, should be to prepare an accessible curriculum. This is easy if the previous teacher left you lesson plans or if your institution has something in place already. If you’re starting from scratch, you can refer to online resources like TeachEngineering for inspiration. Typically, your job is to push your students up to a certain standard. Understand said standards, see where your students are currently, and then come up with lesson plans to bridge the gap.

Two young students in lab coats doing a science experiment--one using a microscope, the other taking notes--building STEM skills through hands-on learning.

Center your lessons around the 7-step EDP process

STEM, at its heart, is identifying real-world problems and then solving them via a methodical “engineering” approach. Getting Smart recommends incorporating Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) and Engineering Design Process (EDP) into your teachings. EDP is cyclical – it involves defining the problem, conducting research, developing multiple solutions, testing said solutions, evaluating the results, and, finally, sharing the results. As a STEM teacher, your priority should be to teach students to use the EDP process to solve real-world problems independently.

Make learning fun with games and team projects

If it’s not fun and engaging, your students’ attention will wander. Here are some suggestions for making it more fun:

Games: Children learn easier if lessons are imparted through play. You could give them educational toys or find fun STEM games for everyone to play.

Teams: Dividing your kids up into groups and assigning them fun projects can help you motivate them. It also promotes collaboration, communication, leadership, and problem-solving.

Real-world examples: Students are more likely to be engaged if they see how STEM has an impact on the real world and the tangible value it brings to the table.

Technology: Coding, virtual reality, smart boards, and simulations are some excellent technological tools to get STEM lessons to stick.

Field trips: If your budget allows, taking your students out for educational trips – science conferences, technology shows, trade fairs, and overseas trips – can make learning STEM extra fun.

Two elementary students wearing safety goggles pouring blue liquid into beakers during a hands-on STEM science experiment in the classroom.

Keep tabs on student progress

In engineering, failure is part of the process. Expect your students to make many mistakes – as long as they recognize their mistakes and are learning from them, they’re on the right track. Furthermore, you must keep tabs on the overall success of your STEM curriculum and improve it over time. Sphero offers some STEM evaluation guidelines, such as participation rates, exam results, changes in perception about STEM, and future career trajectories.

Two students building a small robot using wires and circuits during a hands-on STEM project for elementary school engineering.

Learn more about STEM and how to best teach it by acquiring a degree

Sometimes there’s no substitute for formal education. Acquiring a STEM-related degree – specialized in teaching or otherwise – will grow your knowledge base and make your lessons more effective. With the right degree, you can learn about best instructional practices and learner development principles. If time is an issue, try an online degree program so you can learn in your spare time.

Confident young girl assembling a robot car with a screwdriver during a fun and educational STEM activity in a classroom.

Conclusion

Focusing on the practical, fun applications of STEM and prioritizing hands-on learning will make it more likely that lessons stick in your students’ heads. Think about tactics like creating an online course or taking field trips to keep learning fun. And get to know your students and build strong relationships with them for the best results – if they feel you care about their progress, they’ll be more likely to pay attention and participate in your STEM lessons.

Emily Graham is the creator of Mighty Moms. She believes being a mom is one of the hardest jobs around and wanted to create a support system for moms from all walks of life. On her site, she offers a wide range of info tailored for busy moms -- from how to reduce stress to creative ways to spend time together as a family.